Cardiac operating room (Photo credit: Ruhrfisch ) If you are anticipating becoming a donor, the hardest part has past once the day of surgery arrives. The procedure is much like any other peritoneal surgery. You will be taken into the OR. You will be given an IV and anesthesia. You will have a breathing tube because …[ read more ]

In the last week, you will have the last tests. For us, the test came five days before the transplant. Alan and I returned to Mount Sinai for final testing. Since the HLA ( Human Leukocyte Antigens ) can change, within a week of the transplant, the recipient and donor must be re-matched to be sure we were …[ read more ]

Night lights (Photo credit: dlanham ) Our kidney transplant would take place shortly after the results for the MRI and sonogram came in. I returned home. Within a week, I knew everything was a go, and I needed to make my final journey back to Mount Sinai for our last tests scheduled for November 13. My …[ read more ]

Once blood tests have been completed, two additional tests remain: an ultrasound of the kidneys and an MRI. an image of kidneys from an MRI Most people today have had ultrasounds. The most difficult part of this test is the cold jelly. Like stethoscopes, I believe the jelly is stored in the freezer before use. …[ read more ]

After Mt. Sinai sucked my blood dry like a vampire falling off the wagon, my brother-in-law flew me home in his Piper. Autumn had settled over the Adirondacks and the land below me danced in orange and red and green. Dying, in the natural world, is beautiful. Neil picked me up at the airport and …[ read more ]